214 THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



— are all more or less implicated, as in return for their 

 silence they are permitted to get pickings : a dozen 

 rabbits now and then, good pay for little work, and plenty 

 of beer. If one of them lets out strange facts in his cups, 

 it signifies nothing : no one takes any heed of a labourer's 

 beerhouse talk. The steward or bailiff has strong sus- 

 picions, perhaps, but his motions are known, and his 

 prying eyes defeated. As for the tenants, they groan and 

 bear it. 



It is to be regretted that now and then the rural 

 policeman becomes an accomplice in these nefarious 

 practices. His position of necessity brings him much into 

 contact with the keepers of the district within his charge. 

 If they are a ' shady ' lot, what with plenty of drink, good 

 fellowship, presents of game, and insidious suggestions of 

 profit, it is not surprising that a man whose pay is not 

 the most liberal should gradually fall away from the path 

 of duty. The keeper can place a great temptation in his 

 way — i.e. occasional participation in shooting when certain 

 persons are absent : there are few indeed who can resist 

 the opportunity of enjoying sport. The rural constable 

 often has a beat of very wide area, thinly populated : it 

 is difficult to tell where he may be ; he has a reasonable 

 pretext for being about at all hours, and it is impossible 

 that he should be under much supervision. Perhaps he 

 may have a taste for dogs, and breed them for sale, if not 

 openly, on the sly. Now the keeper can try these animals 



